CN106999746B - Automatic-unfolding fire-extinguishing spray head - Google Patents

Abstract

In one aspect, a fire suppression sprinkler assembly (10) is provided. The assembly includes a housing (20) and a spray head body (22), the spray head body (22) being at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to provide a fluid to an area. The sprinkler body is movable between a first position in which the sprinkler body is concealed within the housing and a second position in which the sprinkler body extends from the housing to provide the fluid to an area, and a thermally responsive member (28) is operatively associated with the sprinkler body and configured to assist in preventing the sprinkler body from deploying from the first position to the second position until the thermally responsive member senses a predetermined temperature.

Description

Self-Deploying Fire Extinguishing Sprinklers

technical field

The subject matter of the invention disclosed herein relates to fire suppression systems, and more specifically, to self-deploying mechanical fire suppression systems.

Background technique

Fire suppression systems typically include sprinklers located in areas requiring fire protection. Such sprinklers may work individually, such as by self-contained thermal elements or as part of a dense sprinkler system in which the flame retardant flows through multiple open sprinklers. The flame retardant may include water or a suitable mixture of water with one or more additives for enhancing the fire fighting characteristics of the fire suppression system.

However, some sprinklers may include protrusions in areas requiring fire protection, which may not be desirable. For example, these protrusions may be less aesthetically pleasing when present in a living space. Therefore, there is a need to provide a fire suppression system with concealed sprinklers.

WO 2014/084954 describes a fire extinguishing sprinkler assembly having a cover plate mounted adjacent the first end of each sprinkler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a fire sprinkler assembly (10) is provided. The assembly includes a housing (20) and a spray head body (22) disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to provide fluid to an area. The showerhead body is movable between a first position in which the showerhead body is concealed within the housing and a second position in which the showerhead body is removed from the housing. The housing extends to provide fluid to the zone, and a zone thermally responsive element (28) is operatively associated with the showerhead body and is configured to help prevent the showerhead body until a predetermined temperature is sensed by the thermally responsive element Expand from the first position to the second position.

In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described above, further embodiments may include wherein the thermally responsive element is a fluid-containing thermal bulb (80) exposed to the region; An undercut (76) is formed in the exposed surface (78) of the showerhead body, and wherein the thermally responsive element is at least partially disposed within the undercut; a second is formed in the exposed surface (16) of the housing an undercut (48), and wherein the thermally responsive element is disposed at least partially within the second undercut; wherein the showerhead body is rotatably coupled to the housing such that the showerhead body follows the It rotates transitioning from the first position to the second position, wherein the housing includes an inlet (40) configured to be coupled to a fluid supply line; wherein the inlet is configured to receive a fluid supply for use at the The showerhead assembly is pressurized by fluid when the showerhead body is in the first position; wherein the showerhead body includes an arcuate groove (54) formed in an outer surface of the showerhead body; the guide pin (24) extends through At least a portion (46) of the housing is disposed at least partially within the arcuate slot; a spare plug (62) is coupled to the housing and configured to be in the first position with the showerhead body , extending into the main fluid channel (50) of the showerhead body; and/or wherein the showerhead body includes a main channel (50) and a plurality of nozzles (52) fluidly coupled to the main channel, wherein the In the second position, the spray head body main channel is configured to receive fluid and provide the fluid to the nozzle for spraying into the area.

In another aspect, a method of making a fire sprinkler assembly (10) is provided. The method includes providing a housing (20) within which a spray head body (22) is at least partially disposed such that the spray head body is moveable between a first position and a second position, in which the first position wherein the showerhead body is concealed within the housing, and in the second position the showerhead body extends from the housing to provide fluid to an area, and a thermally responsive element (28) is coupled to the housing The showerhead body is operatively associated such that the area thermally responsive element helps prevent deployment of the showerhead body from the first position to the second position until the thermally responsive element senses a predetermined temperature.

In addition to, or as an alternative to one or more of the features described above, further embodiments may include providing the thermally responsive element with an undercut (78) formed in the exposed surface (78) of the showerhead body 76); providing the thermally responsive element in a second undercut (48) formed in the exposed surface (16) of the housing; rotatably coupling the showerhead body to the housing, so that the spray head body rotates as it transitions from the first position to the second position; the spray head body is provided with an arc-shaped groove (54), the arc-shaped groove (54) in the spray head and/or a guide pin (24) is provided through at least a portion (46) of the housing and at least partially within the arcuate groove.

Description of drawings

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention in detail is set forth in detail and is expressly claimed in the claims in the concluding section of this specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary fire sprinkler assembly in a retracted first position;

2 is a cross-sectional view of the fire sprinkler assembly in an expanded second position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary spray head of the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the spray head shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary showerhead body that may be used with the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary housing that may be used with the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Detailed ways

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example fire suppression sprinkler assembly 10 that generally includes a fluid supply line 12 fluidly coupled to a fire suppression sprinkler 14 that may be mounted to a building, ship, or other structure on the part. For example, as shown, the showerhead 14 is mounted to the ceiling 100 such that the lower showerhead surface 16 is flush or substantially flush with the ceiling outer surface 102 . Accordingly, in the inactive state, the showerhead 14 is substantially hidden within the ceiling 100 . However, during the active state of fire suppression, the sprinklers 14 are automatically deployed from the ceiling 100, as shown in FIG. 2 and described in greater detail below.

In the exemplary embodiment, fire sprinkler 14 generally includes a housing 20 , a knuckle pin or sprinkler body 22 , guide pins 24 , a plug and filter assembly 26 and a hot bulb assembly 28 .

The housing 20 includes an upper portion 30, a middle portion 32, and a lower portion 34 (see also FIGS. 3 and 6). The housing 20 also includes an inner wall 36 that defines an opening 38 extending through the housing 20 and configured to receive the showerhead body 22 . Once installed, the lower portion 34 is positioned against the ceiling surface 102 and the housing 20 is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply line 12 for receiving water or other fire suppression fluid. In the exemplary embodiment, portions 30, 32, 34 are circular or substantially circular. However, portions 30, 32, 34 may have any suitable shape that enables assembly 10 to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, upper portion 30 defines housing inlet end 40 and includes a cutout, thread or recess 42 formed in inner wall 36 for defining a shoulder 44 configured to support the plug and filter At least a portion of assembly 26 . The middle portion includes a bore or opening 46 configured to receive the guide pin 24 (see also FIG. 6 ), and the lower portion 34 includes a base formed in the showerhead lower surface 16 for receiving the thermal ball assembly 28 Cut or recess 48 (see also Figures 3 and 4).

The showerhead body 22 is rotatably disposed within the housing 20 and generally includes a main channel 50 , a plurality of nozzles 52 , an arcuate slot 54 and a recess 56 . The main channel 50 is formed in the upper surface 58 of the showerhead body 22 and extends generally centrally therethrough along the axis 'A'. The main passage 50 is fluidly coupled to the nozzle 52 and is configured to provide extinguishing fluid from the housing inlet 40 to the nozzle 52 . An arcuate slot 54 is formed in the showerhead body 22 (see also FIG. 5 ) and is configured to receive at least a portion of the guide pin 24 therein. Due to the curvature of the arcuate slot 54, the showerhead body 22 is configured to twist within the housing opening 38 as it translates upward and downward, as described in greater detail herein. Recess 56 is configured to receive an O-ring or seal 60 configured to help provide a fluid seal between showerhead body 22 and housing 20 .

Guide pins 24 are provided within and extend through housing opening 46 and showerhead body arcuate slot 54 . The showerhead body 22 is urged downward toward the showerhead lower surface 16 due to fluid pressure acting on the showerhead body upper surface 58 . As the showerhead body 22 is pushed downward, the guide pin 24 acts against the inner wall of the arcuate groove 54 , which generates a twisting force or torque acting on the showerhead body 22 . In the inactive state, a structure or object is used to counteract this torque to prevent deployment of the showerhead body 22 from within the housing 20 and ceiling 100 . For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the thermal ball assembly 28 is configured to counteract the torque of the showerhead body 22, as described in greater detail herein. Alternatively, any suitable means may be used to prevent twisting of the showerhead body 22 and thus prevent its deployment.

A plug and filter assembly 26 is provided within the upper housing portion 30 and generally includes a backup plug 62 , a fluid supply regulator 64 and a fluid filter 66 . Backup plug 62 includes an o-ring or seal 68 and is configured to help provide communication between backup plug 62 and showerhead body 22 when plug 62 is at least partially positioned within main channel 50 and showerhead 14 is in an inactive state ( FIG. 1 ). Fluid tight. A fluid supply regulator 64 is positioned around the plug 62 (on the shoulder 44) and includes one or more openings 70 for enabling fire suppression fluid from the inlet 40 when the sprinkler head 14 is activated (FIG. 2) It is sent to the main channel 50 of the nozzle body. A fluid filter 66 is positioned against the regulator 64 around the plug 62 to help capture debris that may block or block fluid flow through various portions of the spray head 14 (eg, through the nozzle 52). Gasket 72 and nut 74 are assembled on backup plug 62 to secure fluid supply regulator 64 and fluid filter 66 to backup plug 62 .

The thermal ball assembly 28 is disposed within the housing undercut 48 and within the showerhead body undercut 76 formed in the lower surface 78 of the showerhead body 22, as further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The thermal ball assembly 28 generally includes a thermal ball or other thermally responsive element 80 and fasteners 82 for securing the thermal ball within the undercuts 48 , 76 . In the exemplary embodiment, fastener 82 is a headless socket screw. However, fasteners 82 may be any suitable fasteners or structures configured to secure thermally responsive element 80 within assembly 10 .

A thermal ball 80 is positioned within the undercuts 48, 76 and holds the showerhead body 22 in the inactive position (FIG. 1). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the thermal ball 80 is positioned to traverse both the housing 20 and the showerhead body 22 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. In this orientation, the thermal ball 80 is directly exposed in the space or area that requires fire protection.

When subjected to elevated temperatures, such as in the presence of a fire alarm, the fluid within the thermal bulb 80 expands, causing the thermal bulb to burst and thereby transition or deploy the showerhead body 22 to an active operating state in which the showerhead body 22 is released from the The housing 20 and ceiling 100 protrude to expose the nozzle 52 (FIG. 2). Although a fluid ball is described herein, the showerhead assembly 10 may include other thermally responsive elements that enable the showerhead assembly 10 to function as described herein.

In operation, when the showerhead 14 is in the inactive state shown in FIG. 1 , the showerhead body 22 is positioned within the housing 20 such that the lower surface 78 is flush or substantially flush with the lower showerhead surface 16 . In this position, the spray head 14 is generally concealed within the ceiling 100 . The fluid supply line 12 is pressurized and fluid enters the showerhead inlet 40 . However, the showerhead body 22 is fluidly sealed against the housing inner wall 36 by a seal 60 and a backup plug 62 is fluidly sealed within the main channel 50 to help prevent fluid from escaping the showerhead 14 . Again, the showerhead body 22 is held in the retracted position by the thermal ball assembly 28, which counteracts the fluid pressure on the upper surface 58 of the showerhead body due to the interaction between the inner wall of the arcuate slot 54 and the guide pin 24. The torque acting on the nozzle body 22.

During a high temperature event (eg, a fire alarm), the thermally responsive element 80 bursts or is otherwise activated, which attenuates or removes this counteracting torque. Consequently, fluid pressure acting on the upper surface 58 of the showerhead body urges the showerhead body 22 downwardly, causing the showerhead body 22 to expand and extend out of the housing 20 (FIG. 2). As the showerhead body 22 moves downward, the side walls of the arcuate slot 54 straddle the guide pin 24, which causes the showerhead body 22 to twist or rotate as it descends from the housing. Once deployed in the activated position ( FIG. 2 ), the backup plug 62 is no longer located within the main channel 50 , thereby allowing the extinguishing fluid to flow through the filter 66 , the regulator 64 and into the main channel 50 where it is located , the extinguishing fluid is then directed into a plurality of nozzles 52 and sprayed into the area requiring fire protection.

The systems and methods described herein provide a fire sprinkler assembly that is concealed within a structure and mechanically deployed during a high temperature event. As a result, no electronics are required to activate the showerhead assembly, which can help with shorter reaction times to elevated temperatures. Again, the fluid supply line is pressurized in the inactive state, so that there is no need to prime the fluid supply line during activation. Also, the thermal ball is always exposed to the environment, so there is no need to wait for the thermal ball to heat up after deployment.

While the present invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily recognized that the present invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, substitutions, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not described herein, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be recognized that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention should not be considered limited by the foregoing description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. A fire extinguishing nozzle assembly (10), comprising: housing (20); a spray head body (22) disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to provide fluid to an area, the spray head body being movable between a first position and a second position in which the a showerhead body concealed within the housing and extending from the housing in the second position to provide the fluid to the region; and A thermally responsive element (28) operatively associated with the showerhead body and configured to help prevent the showerhead body from moving from the first position until the thermally responsive element senses a predetermined temperature expand to the second position, wherein the showerhead body is rotatably coupled to the housing such that the showerhead body rotates as it transitions from the first position to the second position. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermally responsive element is a fluid-containing thermal bulb (80) exposed in the region. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an undercut (76) is formed in an exposed surface (78) of the showerhead body, and wherein the thermally responsive element is at least partially disposed within the undercut. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a second undercut (48) is formed in the exposed surface (16) of the housing, and wherein the thermally responsive element is provided at least partially within the second Undercut inside. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an inlet (40) configured to couple to a fluid supply line, wherein the inlet is configured to receive a fluid supply for all The showerhead assembly is pressurized by fluid when the showerhead body is in the first position. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the showerhead body includes an arcuate groove (54) formed in an outer surface of the showerhead body. 7. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising a guide pin (24) extending through at least a portion (46) of the housing and disposed at least partially in the arc inside the groove. 8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spare plug (62) coupled to the housing and configured to be in the first position when the spray head body is in the first position into the main channel (50) of the spray head body. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the showerhead body includes a main channel (50) and a plurality of nozzles (52) fluidly coupled to the main channel, wherein in the second position, all The showerhead body main channel is configured to receive fluid and provide the fluid into the nozzle for spraying into the area. 10. A method of manufacturing a fire extinguishing nozzle assembly (10), the method comprising: providing a housing (20); A spray head body (22) is at least partially disposed within the housing such that the spray head body is movable between a first position and a second position in which the spray head body is concealed within the within the housing and in the second position the spray head body extends from the housing to provide fluid to an area; and operatively associating a thermally responsive element (28) with the showerhead body such that the thermally responsive element helps prevent deployment of the showerhead body from the first position to the desired temperature until the thermally responsive element senses a predetermined temperature the second position, The method also includes rotatably coupling the showerhead body to the housing to rotate the showerhead body as it transitions from the first position to the second position. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning the thermally responsive element in an undercut (76) formed in an exposed surface (78) of the showerhead body. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising disposing the thermally responsive element in a second undercut (48) formed in the exposed surface (16) of the housing. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing the showerhead body with an arcuate groove (54) formed in the outer surface of the showerhead body; and Guide pins (24) are passed through at least a portion (46) of the housing and at least partially disposed within the arcuate grooves.

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